Malaysia Introduces Age Verification Rules, Bans Social Media Accounts for Children Under 16
Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia has introduced new online safety regulations requiring major social media platforms to verify users’ ages and prevent children under the age of 16 from creating accounts.
The new rules came into effect on Monday and apply to digital platforms with at least eight million users in the country. Popular services affected by the regulations include Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Authorities said platforms will be given a transition period to comply with the requirements, although no specific deadline has been announced.
The move reflects growing international concern over the impact of social media on children’s well-being, mental health, and online safety. Malaysia joins a number of countries that are introducing stricter measures to regulate young people’s access to digital platforms.
According to guidelines issued by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), social media companies must implement age-verification systems. Users may be required to confirm their identity through official documents such as national identity cards or passports before opening accounts.
The regulator warned that companies failing to comply with the law could face fines of up to 10 million Malaysian ringgit, equivalent to approximately $2.5 million.
Malaysia’s decision follows similar actions in other countries. Australia became one of the first nations to adopt strict age-based social media regulations, requiring major platforms to remove underage accounts or face significant financial penalties.
Indonesia has also introduced measures aimed at limiting social media access for users under 16, while several European countries, including France, Spain, Denmark, Greece, Norway, and Turkey, have announced plans to strengthen protections for minors online.
However, not everyone supports complete restrictions. Digital rights organizations, including the UK-based free expression group Article 19, have argued that children should not be excluded from the digital world. Instead, they advocate for safer online environments that protect young users’ rights while maintaining access to educational and social opportunities.
The debate over children’s online safety continues to grow as governments, technology companies, and advocacy groups seek solutions to balance protection, privacy, and digital access.